"I didn't really understand what they meant, and it was only once it was past that I realized that my body had been holding on by a thread to get through this very intense experience. Nothing can prepare you for awards season.

"The red carpet feels like a war zone, except you cannot fly or fight; you just have to stand there and take it."

Nyong'o went on to say that her sudden fame following her 12 Years a Slave role and subsequent Oscar win has come as a shock.

"It just feels like the entertainment industry exploded into my life," she explained. "People who seemed so distant all of a sudden were right in front of me and recognizing me - before I recognized them!

"For a split second I looked behind me to see who they were flashing at - and it was me!

Lupita Nyong'o's full interview appears in the July issue of US Vogue magazine, which hits newsstands nationwide on June 30 and is available now as a digital download for the iPad, Kindle Fire, NOOK Color and NOOK Tablet.